Nursing homes that are located in high heat zones must be careful to protect residents. AC systems are mandatory in some regions and others-not. At the very least, portable units, fans, and extra water is needed. The problem I have with lawsuits about this stuff is– the condition of so many residents might be the cause of a death during a heateave. I guess this is where documentation is vital.

After hearing four weeks of testimony, a jury in St. Louis will decide whether a nursing home in University City should pay the daughter of a resident who died there during a heat wave in April 2001.

Freddie Burns, 70, was among four women who died within 48 hours after the temperature rose above 95 degrees inside the Leland Health Care Center, 894 Leland Avenue.

The St. Louis County medical examiner ruled that all four died of hyperthermia – overheating.

[...]
The case now rests with jurors, some of whom appeared fidgety at the end of their fourth week. One juror told the judge he worried about missing a business trip next week; another slouched in his chair. The jury has the weekend off. They will resume deliberations on Monday.

Lakin argued that Leland workers improperly fed and cared for Burns and falsified records about her care. He said the center had no plan for handling various crises.

On the warm weekend in April, the staff failed to turn on the air-conditioning system, bring in portable air conditioners or move residents, he said.

Leland and other nursing homes “have to learn they can’t handle our elderly in a big-box, discount approach,” he said.

Leland’s lawyer, Gregory Minana, told the jurors that asking $18 million was “obscene.”

18 Million IS OBSCENE.